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The week before upper school started, upper school dean for students, Lynn Puritz-Fine, sent a message to the upper school about the new locker situation. In an attempt to reduce noise and hallway congestion, specifically what used to be the freshman hallway, the faculty has tried a new model of assigning lockers alphabetically, which will integrate the grades, with the exception of the senior lockers.

Upon questioning Puritz about the situation, she said that hallway noise and traffic has been a problem in the upper school for about a decade. She also stated, “The noise level has gone down, along with hallway traffic, which was the original goal,” Puritz continued, “students have said that they’ve met people in other classes whom they like.” When asked about any complaints or suggestions that have been made concerning this system, Puritz claimed that the only complaints that she has received were about how siblings (excluding senior siblings) are next to each other. Puritz explained, “We didn’t consider the fact that siblings would be right next to each other, and that doesn’t have to be, so next year we won’t have that issue.” There is a slight hint, intended or not, that either the system will change or be abolished next year, but what seems most likely is that siblings might get slightly switched up as the new system has seen success.

After confronting Ross Clark ’19 about his thoughts on the new system, he confirmed, “I liked the old method. Now I am back in the freshman hallway which was unfortunate because I missed having people in my class on either side of me,” Clark goes on to say, “it (the alphabetical system) seems to have worked, at least in the sophomore hallway. I never see people sitting on the floor and blocking the path like we used to. The freshman hallway kind of became that, though, since that hallway is usually crowded after lunch.” After asking him about whether or not said method should stay, he said, “I wouldn’t really care because either way because I’m with my own grade next year. It didn’t turn out as bad as I thought it would so I don’t see any problem with keeping it, but I also think the people would be more than happy to return to the old method.”

After asking Sarah O’Brien, whose classroom is outside the old freshman hallway, about the effectiveness of the situation, she answered, “In the past, the freshman hallway has been super noisy and rowdy, and lunch and people would have food and occasionally spill it on the floor. At lunch when I was working, it has been very disruptive, but this year’s method has been a lot more effective. The objective of creating a quieter hallway environment outside this classroom has been achieved.” She also said how she “prefers the environment that is happening in this hallway now. I can’t say because the lockers were mixed up because of that, but I like it a lot better,” and” would like the peaceful environment outside of [her] classroom to stay.”

When talking with Courtney Thompson ’20 about the alphabetical system, she reflected a disliking towards it. When asked about her preference regarding the new and old methods, she replied, “I prefer the old organization method because I was closer to all of my friends and if I had a question pertaining to my grade there would be someone right next to me.” Regarding the effectiveness and whether this method should stay, she said that, “people still group up in the hallways by their friends lockers,” and how she believes that we should return to the old organization method.

While many people have different opinions about the new locker situation, it is important to understand the intentions behind this system and recognize the significance of sparking appropriate, yet lively conversation.